Mark 16:1-8

Why are we not going to look at the rest of Mark?

Verses 9–20, commonly called the Longer Ending, do not appear in the earliest manuscripts of the Gospel. That is not an insignificant point. In Biblical studies, the oldest manuscripts are the most reliable. They are less likely to have Scribal errors as they are closer to the original text. Scholars are virtually unanimous in holding that these verses were not written by Mark but by a Christian of the late first or early second century who sought to fill out the abrupt ending of verse 8.

1. The longer ending is written in a different style than the rest of the gospel.

2. The read more like a summary of church tradition than a gospel.

3. We don’t see Jesus anywhere promising immunity to poison or speaking in other tongues.

As you will see the ending is abrupt and you could see how this would be an issue with early Christians. As the other gospels get written, and they have more complete endings, you would naturally want to smooth out the complexity of Marks ending.

The day that changed the World. The 20th and 21st century are a period of time the world has seen immense change. Think about it. Mass production of automobiles have allowed us to commute many miles to work and to cover vast distances in a single day (depending on how fast you like to drive). The airplane has allowed us to travel the world. The computer has allowed us to make complex calculations in seconds, and the smart phone has allowed us to tune out of conversations in a matter of micro-seconds. But there is one event in the history of the world that has changed us now and in the future. It is the most important event in the history of the world. What makes it such an important event? I am guessing since you decided to sacrifice sleep, that you would agree with me. So I am not trying to convince you why the resurrection is important. But I do want to remind and encourage you from the book of

Well Mark 16:1-8 - identifies at three reasons why the resurrection changed everything, it provided vindication of Jesus’s life and teaching. And in this resurrection passage we see three things.

- There is dignity, forgiveness and Defeat of the curse of sin.

The gospel gives dignity to all people. We see this in many different ways throughout his ministry. He spoke to and healed those who society deemed unworthy. He broke all sorts of “cultural norms” during his earthly life. We see this all throughout the life of Christ. The Samaritan women, the centurions servant (a gentile), his disciples (fishermen, tax collectors). He broke all sorts of "cultural norms" to proclaim his simple message "repent and believe". Not only did he do so during his earthly life, but we see it here in this passage. Let’s look again and read what Mark says.

Because of when the crucifixion took place, Christ's body was unable to be properly prepared because he died right before the sabbath. So the women came early Sunday morning to prepare his body. So this would take place on Sunday. In the present passage, the women who are placed at the scene of Jesus’ execution (15:41) and at the scene of Jesus’ burial (15:47) go to the tomb to mourn and to offer their last gesture of love for the dead Jesus. The spices mentioned in 16:1 were not for embalming (not a Jewish burial custom at this time) but for perfuming the corpse, a gesture of love and respect. Excavations of ancient Jewish tombs have uncovered perfume flasks that contained aromatic substances. The women’s intent to anoint the corpse (v. 1) means that they probably wished to pour the perfumed oils over their dead master. Such perfumes were costly, and this act therefore involved a financial sacrifice. The purchase of the spices and the desire to perform this burial rite means that they had no expectation of a resurrection of Jesus. They waited until after Sabbath, going early on the Sunday morning (v. 2) because the strict rules of Sabbath observance made it improper to perform such rites on the holy day. In the Jerusalem climate during the late spring (when the execution and burial took place), dead bodies decompose quickly, and so the women would have been prepared for an uncomfortable experience in the tomb.

You get the sense that they were in a hurry. Mark implies this by stating that they weren't sure how they were going to roll away the stone.

We can relate to that, we get hurried and forget the details. We are late for our appointment and we forget a part of our presentation. We rush off and forget one of our kids. I am notorious for misplacing my keys. You would think by now that I would figure out a system that works, but alas I get hurried and distracted. I forget my keys sand I need to leave to go somewhere, and I rush around looking for my keys.

So they arrive, forgetting this key piece of detail. Who will move the stone? There were different types of tombs. A wealthy tomb would have a round stone that would block the entrance and would be rolled. A family who could not afford that, would have a stone shaped more like a wine cork. Jesus from what we know from Scripture had a stone that was rolled. They were heavy and they would need help to roll the stone away. The stone served as a slow doorway that could be sealed with a stone (in many cases a rolling stone fitted into a groove or track so that the tomb could be opened and closed by rolling the stone back and forth in front of the doorway), and (3) a passageway leading to a rectangular-shaped tomb chamber. Here the body (having been wrapped in a linen cloth) could be laid lengthwise in either a rectangular, horizontal, oven-shaped shaft driven back into the vertical rock face measuring 78×25×20 inches or laid on a simple rock shelf cut laterally into the rock with a vaulted arch over it

This also shows that they were not expecting resurrection. They are expecting Jesus to stay dead. There is nothing in the actions of these women that indicates they expected resurrection, otherwise why would they bother to anoint his body?

But when they arrive they see that it has already been taken care of. The stone has been rolled away. What’s interesting is that the stone didn't need to be moved for Jesus to get out. In fact, it was able to pass through locked doors.

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,

The stone was rolled away, not for Jesus’s sake but for the witnesses, for these women. It was rolled away so they can peer into the tomb and realize he is not there he has risen he has risen indeed.

In this passage we see that the Women are the first to witness the empty tomb. They arrive and notice of the stone had been moved back there is an angel there and the angel says to them do not be alarmed (easy for you to say). There is something interesting about this exchange with the angel. He gives the women what can be categorized as a minor rebuke. In other words looking for a dead body which does not exist… What are you doing here he’s not here he has risen.

Then the angel says something remarkable-go tell his disciples. What makes a statement remarkable is that the place women held in society at that time was low enough that a testimony from a woman was not accepted in Jewish courts. Their testimony’s did not count. PAUSE….Is that not amazing. PAUSE… The first witnesses of our risen Lord are women who can’t even testify in their society. This by the way adds to the authenticity of of Scriptures. If Mark was making this up whole thing up, the women would not be the first witnesses. If that were the case, it would undermine the credibility of the gospel. Unless he is not making it up, but he is telling truth.

Jesus came and did many things during his earthly ministry. He is restoring the dignity that those who are disenfranchised deserve, those who are created in the image of God. We have seen this in his ministry-touching those who are ceremonially unclean- early in the gospel of Mark Jesus remarked about the faith and devotion of two different women. This restoration of dignity did not end at Jesus’s death, it continues on because of the resurrection, because the kingdom of God has a King who has defeated death. now we see that the first witnesses are not the upper class in society but those whose testimonies are Invalid in this 1st century context. The unworthy are now worthy because of Christ, as the apostle Paul tells us in Gal 3:28 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. That means that the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, not only his death to sin, but His resurrection. His defeat of sin and death is good news for all people. Not the cultural elites. Not the people who have it all together. But for those that have to a place where they realize how much they are in need of God’s grace.

Maybe this afternoon you feel like you’re unworthy, like you don’t deserve grace and mercy and peace that Jesus brings. You are right to feel that way. We are undeserving. That is what God’s grace is all about. We do not deserve his grace, which is exactly what grace is…a love that is undeserved. He came offering grace and truth to a lost world. To reclaim and redeem those who had been lost due to sin. No matter what our position in life is, we are all in that same boat. Our society may elevate certain types of people and diminish others, but as the apostle Paul says…all are one in Christ Jesus. Jesus redeemed the unredeemable. He redeemed us by defeating death and sin. And by Grace we have been saved. All types of people.

Not only does Mark show us that Jesus gives dignity to the marginalized, but The gospel offers Forgives the unforgivable.

Remember what the Angel says, in Mark 16:7 the angel says, But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

To me… that Jesus wanted his disciples to know that he had risen is amazing. Why is that so astounding? Because Jesus’s disciples are gone and they are in hiding. Jesus predicted as much in Matt 26 and Mark 14:27-31 saying

27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Mark has shown us that Jesus predicted that his followers, those who followed him for three years, those who witnesses miracles, those who sat under his teaching, did just as Jesus predicted. They were in hiding. Not only were they hiding, but Peter denied even knowing him.

I don’t know if you are like me in this way, but sometimes when I read this section, I glaze over it because its familiar. But let’s take a moment and see how the angels command to women in vs. 7 relates to this denial that is so well known.

The angel tells the women to go and tell his disciples and Peter. The disciples should have expected Jesus to rise again, they had seen him raise Lazarus. But they doubted. They were not in Galilee yet. Luke 24:12 “But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.”

They were in a room hiding together fearing for their lives and hoping that what had happened to Jesus when not happen to them. We see this fear on display as Peter was asked if he was one of Christ’s followers which he denied three times. How defeated did he feel? How humiliated must he have felt? Had he just wasted three years of his life following some mortal Rabbi?

Praise the Lord for his grace and forgiveness. The women arrive at the tomb and are told to go tell the disciples what had happened. Not only that, but go to Galilee and meet the risen Christ there. Not just the disciples but Peter as well. You see there is a restoration that is going to take place. Jesus is going to forgive Peter for his denial.

One commentator puts it this way. The announcement of the angel is not one of deserved blame but a promise of gathering and going before them! God completes his plans for the church despite human failure. If the word of grace from the resurrected Lord includes a traitor like Peter, readers of the Gospel may be assured that it includes those of their community who have also failed Christ.

Before we decide that Peter is some weakling, we must remember that Peter ultimately died for the gospel. We also need to remember that all of us at some point were lost and in a way were denying Christ. Perhaps some now are denying Christ. You are here, you are worshiping, yet maybe when you are pressed, when your are experiencing trials and temptations you deny Christ. I’m here to tell you that Christ’s resurrection is for you. His forgiveness is for you. Jesus’s own followers denied him, but Jesus forgave them. Which is what makes this encounter so intriguing. The very men that were supposed to follow him were nowhere to be found. And the one who claimed he would never deny Christ, did so not once not twice but three times.

How many of us would forgive someone who was associated closely with us for three full years who denied us? Most of us wouldn’t, but the beauty of the gospel is that Jesus does offer forgiveness to the deniers. He offers forgiveness to the deserters.

As we remember the resurrection, we let us remember the forgiveness only found in Jesus Christ and that God uses people like us, to accomplish his purposes despite our failings. That is good news. That is gospel news.

We have seen that Jesus redeems the unredeemable, the forgives the unforgivable and he defeats the undefeaHow table.

The gospel Defeats the undefeatable-

not taxes unfortunately…but death. And that is something so remarkable that it redefines everything. No more death. This fact was so unexpected. The women were not coming to the grave site to witness the resurrection, they were coming to ensure a proper burial. The disciples were not in Galilee waiting for Jesus to come because they thought he was dead. The religious movement had died. Their leader was dead. But he defeated death and conquered sin by taking punishment that we really deserved, dying the death that was due to less for sin, and rising again to give us new life. A life that is new and fresh, a resurrected life. A life that allows us to become more like Christ. It allows us to leave our life of sin and live for him. A life that was promised immediately after the fall in Genesis 3:15. That Satan would be defeated and that he would no longer rule over us. We have that life, a new life, a born-again life because of Christ. We are a new creation because of Christ. We have been raised with Christ. If we are in Christ we have a regenerated heart and a renewed mind, and a revived soul.

Not only are we renewed now, but Jesus’s resurrection promises something for the future. i.e., we spend eternity with him in the new heavens and in the new earth with a resurrected body (a body that will not see decay).

1 Corinthians 15:20-26 “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

It’s not just Jesus death that is necessary, but his resurrection. His resurrection obliterates the affects of the fall!

In this passage we have the culmination, what Mark has been pointing to the very beginning of the book. That the kingdom of God, and our King is here and is changing things. His message has been vindicated by the resurrection. He is redeeming the unredeemable, he is forgiving the unforgivable, he is defeating the undefeatable. Of course has always been working towards this great event, which Gen 3:15 makes so clear. God doing this in the Old Testament but here it is clear as day. What was concealed is now revealed.

And now the passage ends on an odd note. Mark 16:8 “And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

We’ve seen this before. Jesus calming the storm, Jesus delivering Legion, the fear in Jesus setting his face on Jerusalem to die.

Sinclair Ferguson says that “fear is the response of men and women to Jesus as he shows his power and majesty s the Son of God.” Perhaps, as Ferguson concludes that he leaves the ending on this note because it was so unexpected, the women were in awe. They couldn’t believe that their Lord was alive again.

Many of you here probably heard the Easter story many times over. But let us remember and be encouraged about the work that Jesus began and is continuing to do. The story is not over. Christianity is not dying. Jesus won so the church can never lose. I’m not talking about a battle for culture, I’m talking about the gospel. Jesus is Lord. Jesus brings Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” The good news is that Jesus accomplished what we cannot he restores dignity, forgives, and defeats, and now we are called to be his disciples, to be his witnesses, to tell people he has risen.

I encourage you to take the news of resurrection and pray for renewal amongst our people. Pray for the hearts of this church to be enlarged for those not only within this body, but for those outside these walls. Pray for God to bring about renewal and resurrection in the lives of our people, and for the the gospel of Jesus Christ to break through the stony hearts of the people around us. Pray for the power of the resurrection to affect us. For us to have our hearts and imaginations captured by King Jesus. And for the overflow of the gospel to fuel our prayers for renewal in our hearts, and resurrection for the people around us.